"Who was that?" Miriam hugged Michaela while gazing in the direction of Sully's car taking off.
"He's a friend from the mentor's organization" Michaela talked while going inside. She had to settle her emotions before facing Miriam.
"You look tired" Miriam stated when they sat down with their books a little later.
"I haven't slept much" Michaela admitted and focused on the books.
Miriam observed her friend. Maybe she was just tired, but she seemed a little flustered.
"Why not?" Miriam knew that her friend tended to stay up all night before a test and that she worked best under pressure "the test isn't until next Friday."
"I know, but…" Michaela hesitated a little. How much should she tell Miriam? She might jump to the wrong conclusions.
On the other hand Miriam was her best friend.
"Sully kept me awake…" There. She had said it.
She got Miriam's attention straight away.
"That guy? Did he stay here?" Miriam was in a state of shock, and Michaela laughed. "No we were texting."
"So tell me what's going on with him." Miriam demanded.
"Nothing is going on. We're friends. He's mentoring Matthew Cooper, and has asked me to help him with Brian." Michaela got up and got them some coffee.
"So you're texting about mentoring in the middle of the night" Miriam said sarcastically, and Michaela blushed.
"Why are you blushing?"
"We're friends, Miriam, just like you and I" Michaela emphasized, and Miriam laughed. "No, not like you and I… he's a man. Soon he'll be declaring his love for you,
and you know where that leads."
"Miriam…" Michaela objected, but Miriam cut her off "just think of the mess with David," she cautioned.
"I know… but Sully is not like that. Besides we talked it over already." Michaela suppressed a smile thinking about the kiss – talking was hardly the right word to use.
"As long as you know what you're doing. Just promise me you'll be careful."
Michaela nodded. "I will."
Across town Sully was crashing on his sofa –just as he had told Michaela.
The run he had been on had not helped him focus his thoughts entirely. Why had he suggested that kiss? He wished he hadn't… no that was a lie.
The kiss had been wonderful. He had to admit that. She had enjoyed it too, he could tell by her response, and he'd wished he had not agreed to the ground rules.
But neither of them had said much afterwards. He was not sure what to make of it, and he just hoped she did not regret kissing him or hugging him.
Tuesday did not arrive fast enough if you asked Sully. He could not wait to finish practise with the boys,
and he found himself checking his outfit more than once before taking off.
Michaela was also a little nervous. She did not know why, but Miriam's words stuck to her mind, and she felt a little torn between her impression of Sully
and her experiences with male friends.
They had not been in touch since the weekend, and she kept telling herself she had to give him a chance, and that they had to work together for Brian's sake.
If only the kiss did not keep haunting her.
More than once she had woken in the middle of the night feeling flustered with a vague remembrance of a dream where the kiss went much further.
"So how have you been?" They were in her kitchen again eating a pasta dish she had cooked for him.
She had gathered he might be hungry after practise, and she had been right. "I've been really busy…"
They chatted in between eating, and both felt very comfortable.
"Have you signed up for the camp with the kids next month?" Sully asked "I know Brian and Colleen are going."
She shook her head. "I can't. I have to go home for the summer."
She sighed a little saying it, and he commented "you don't sound too thrilled about it."
She finished her food and looked at him "it's a long story."
Sully remembered her tone in the car back from Charlotte's and had a feeling there was a connection.
"Why don't you tell me about it?" he stated while putting away their plates and gestured for her to sit in the sofa.
"It might help…" Michaela agreed, and sat down next to him. She had not spoken to Miriam about it, because she knew what her answer would be.
"I'm working in my father's practise all summer. He's a doctor," she added.
"Sounds good with some work experience, or..?" Sully raised his eyebrow at her, and she smiled.
"Yes, the work experience is great, if only I did not have to work with my father's partner." She went silent, and Sully touched her knee.
"You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to."
"But I do…" she blurted out, and she realized that she did. "You're easy to talk to," she offered him a smile, and he waited for her to continue.
"My father has always been my hero. He is so inspiring, and from when I was a little girl I would go with him to the hospital or sit in his clinic
when he saw patients. He is my mentor, and I've always known I wanted to become a doctor like him. Unlike my sisters who were more preoccupied with Boston society.
I'm the youngest, and he always wanted a son – that's why my nickname is Mike."
Sully nodded, and knew she just needed him to listen.
"It has always been the plan that I was to become his partner in the practise and eventually take over.
However, last year my father decided to get a new partner. I truly understand why, and it would have been fine, if it had not been an old friend of mine…"
She stopped talking unsure of how to continue.
"David and I were friends for a long time…" she said silently, and met Sully's gaze.
"The short version is that he… he fell in love with me." She looked at her hands feeling all emotional.
"He went to my father behind my back, and asked for his permission to marry me. He comes from a very wealthy and influential family, and my mother was so excited.
When I turned him down everything changed."
She did not know why she was tearing up, but she felt Sully's arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into his broad chest.
He still did not speak sensing that there was more.
"My parents have never given up the idea of me marrying him. They have even encouraged him to contact me, send me flowers, presents…" she sighed.
"David was my friend, and he betrayed my trust, and my relationship to my parents has changed forever.
We never even dated, and I don't know what I did to make him want to marry me."
Sully gave her a squeeze and she felt his breath into her hair.
"His entrance into my father's practise is yet another way to keep him close to me, and another way for them to plan our coming together.
I know I'll have to not only listen to them all summer, but also work with him every day." She felt herself tremble a little, but Sully held her tight.
Now he understood why she had been a little hesitant to make friends.
"Thanks for sharing," he looked down on her face and could not help wiping a stray tear off her cheek.
"Thanks for listening…" their eyes met and he saw sadness there.
"I just wish he would move on." Sully stroked her hair and neck while she talked, and he felt her relax into his shoulder.
"How long has it been going on?" he asked softly, and she mumbled into his neck "since my second year out here. They didn't want me to go here either.
I guess they hope I'll return to Boston as soon as I finish my studies this summer."
He pulled back meeting her expression. "This summer?"
"Don't worry, I'm not going back. I've already secured a place at the hospital here," she stated. "But I haven't told them yet.
My father is going to be disappointed, but I cannot work alongside David as long as he is pining for me."
She tried to sound determined, but he could hear her insecurity.
"They're lucky to have you here. You're smart and from what I hear very good at what you do."
"It's all I want –to be a doctor – but on my own conditions not theirs."
"Your parents should be proud of you… not everyone could stand that kind of pressure."
Sully's words made her warm inside, and she could tell he meant what he said.
"Thank you…." Her voice was soft, and maybe it was because she felt vulnerable and emotional, but she leaned close and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
Sully was caught by surprise, but when she pulled back he reciprocated, and kissed her back.
This time there were no ground rules to follow, and he slid his arms around her holding her close.
Soon they were on the sofa side by side, and she moaned softly as his tongue begged for access to her mouth.
She could do nothing but give in and press her body closer to his. It felt good.
His hands were entwined in her hair making her quiver, and their legs were tangled.
When they finally parted they were both breathless.
She took a deep breath and faced him. "I'm sorry, Sully… I shouldn't have… I did not mean for that to happen."
He looked at her questioningly, as she sat up. "I can't… it's too complicated – too much."
She voice was trembling.
"Hey…" he grabbed her wrist and sat up next to her when she made a move to get up.
" 'Chaela, you're not the only one here. I'm in this too, and all I know is that you are very special." He kissed the palm of her hand.
"No one has made me feel remotely of what I felt kissing you. If you can look me in the eye and tell me that you did not feel anything.
That it was nothing. I'll let it go here and now." His eyes were searching hers, "we have to talk about this…." he said when she did not respond straight away.
"I know." She finally said, and he waited for her to continue. "I just don't know what to do… "
"The test…" he queried "did you feel anything?"
She closed her eyes a moment before answering: "Yes."
"And just now?" her eyes met his. She did not have to answer, the look on her face was enough, but she nodded.
"This could be something special, 'Chaela, but I respect you. So tell me to let it go, and I will."
"I can't…" she admitted… "but I'm afraid. I'm not good at these things, and…"
"Shh… that's all I need to know" he kissed her forehead "we'll take it ever so easy."
His voice was soft as he pulled her close into his embrace, and she gave in nuzzling his neck with her nose.